Air control valve



11. H. "GOLDMAN AIR CONTROL VALVE Filed April 24, 1945 Patented Feb. 7, 1950 AIR CGNTROL VALVE Joshua H. Goldman, United States Navy Application April 24, 1945, Serial No. 590,095

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 G. 757) 2 Claims.

This invention is concerned with improvements in a control valve, particularly such a valve adapted for use in connection with the air supply line to deep sea diving suits.

An object of the invention is to provide a control valve operable in the normal manner by the diver for controlling ingress of air to the diving suit.

A second object is to provide an improved valve having new and useful capabilities in addition to the normal function of manual control of air.

A further object of this invention is to provide a valve structure automatically operable to admit abnormally large quantities of air to a diving suit in event such abnormal quantity becomes necessary for any reason, such as puncture of the suit, or upon rapid descent.

The usual diving suit comprises a rigid helmet and a non-rigid suit of water-proof material. The suit is iniiated under control of the diver, for purposes of maintaining the desired buoyancy. A constant ingress of air is maintained. This is controlled by a hand operated intake valve to supply sufcient air for respiration. An equal quantity of air is exhausted by a spring operated valve, generally located on the helmet, the tension of the spring being variable. By properly correlated adjustments of the intake and exhaust valves, it is possible to maintain suitable conditions of buoyancy and air supply for breathing.

A disadvantage of the ordinary equipment is that readjustments are necessitated frequently. For example, as the diver descends in the water, pressure upon the suit increases. Further, the diver is subject to squeezef if air pressure is lost from the suit, as by puncture. In addition, too much air will inate the suit unduly, perhaps causing the diver to pop to the surface, with attendant ill effects. Therefore, the diver must constantly be on -guard to tend the valves described.

Automatic valves have been tried with indifferent success, so far as I am aware. I propose to provide a valve which will give improved results in diving service, relieving the diver of much of the labor of adjustment necessary with the usual system, and freeing him for his more important duties.

The single figure of drawing is a representation of my improved valve showing partly in section, for purposes of better illustrating the invention.

As shown, the main portion of the valve comprises an elongated substantially cylindrical body 2 i .with inlet opening 2 and'outlet 3. Within this bodyl is a cylindrical chamber Il closed at one end and, in the embodiment shown, being of,

having a handle on the upper end and on thel lower end a valve body 5 fitting closely in cylinder Packing rings l are provided on plug 6 and Il. packing gasket i0 is provided on valve body 5 forv the obvious purpose of securing fluid-tight, t of plug 6 and valve body 5 in chamberl Il,

The threaded iit between shaft ll` and `plug- 6 will be such as to prevent passage of uid, a@

gland being provided if desired. Ring l-3 is provided for convenience in securing the valve to the suit.

Valve body 5 is so proportioned and constructed as to completely close communication between inlet 2 and outlet 3 when desired. In the figure the valve is shown closed. For purpose of establishing communication between inlet and outlet the shaft 4 may be rotated clockwise in the plug 6. The screw thread upon shaft 4 will advance the valve body 5 to cause admission above valve body 5 of such quantity of air as is desired.

In operation, inlet 2 may be connected to the airline supplying the diver with air for breathing. Outlet 3 will be in communication with the suit. In normal operation, on preparation for descent, the valve will be opened by turning the handle to establish a suitable iiow of air to the suit. As descent progresses it may be desirable to admit additional air to the suit to overcome the increased pressure of the Water.

It will be noted that plug 6 will be acted upon by the water pressure, and since the valve is carried by the diver the pressure actin-g upon the plug increases as the diver descends. Pressure of the air within the suit is communicated to the end surface of valve body 5 through the opening I2 from outlet 3. Thus, the air within the suit, when it equals the pressure of the water Without the suit, will exert upon the valve body 5 a pressure equal to that exerted by the water upon the plug 6, since their cross sectional areas are the same.

If for any reason the air pressure Within the suit becomes less than the water pressure, the entire valve assembly including shaft 4, plug 6 and valve body y5 will be forced in such a direc tion as to increase the opening from 2 to 3, thus allowing a. greater quantity of air to enter thev suit. Such an emergency might be caused by puncture of the suit, or it may be desirable to allow this automatic action to take care of increased air requirements merely upon descent in a normal course of operation.

When air has been established"` in the suit at a pressure slightlyf greater than that ofv the wateroutside the valve body will be forced outward until stopped by the key 8 in slot 9. There will` thus be reestablished the original adjustment. of the valve whereby air continues to flow at a reduced but constant rate.

It is to be noted that emergency, as, well. as normal, operation, is under control ofr the diver. Any situation demanding quick supply off alarga amount of air may be met by pressure on the Valve handle in the direction, to: increase' the: opening. Similarly the valve may be manually closed.

None; of the; above mentioned manipulations affects the original setting of the valve body 5 relative to plug- 6; and whenevery they plug is returned to the position shown in the figure the setting; isV retained:

Changes inf arrangement are, oft` course; Den missible. Forv exam-ple; the chamberineed not be cylindrical, though that is an eminently satis*- factory shape. For other shapes there mightY be a rotatablemounting of valve body 5 on shaft Il. Plug 6 and valve-body 5 mayl be of different cross sectional? areasy The invention herein described may be manufactured and usedV by or for the Government of the United States: of AmericaA for governmental purposes withoutl the7 payment of anyv royalties thereonor therefor;

1 length to close said ports when in position to do so, said.valve having an externally threaded stem extending outwardly through the other end of saidchamberv for manual control; and an internally threaded sleeve tted to said stem and slidable in said other end of the chamber, Whereby said Valve is adjustable relative to said sleeve and is also movable as a unit with said sleeve.

2 Inthe.- valve` assembly defined in claim 1, cooperative means on said sleeve and said casing permitting reciprocation of said valve but preventing withdrawal of the sleeve fromt'he casing.,

JOSHUA H.. GOLDMLAN.v

REFERENCES CITED The following. references are of record in the fllei o this, patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name; Date.

515,703 Birk/ery l Feb; 277-', 1894` 1,131,490 Drager Mar; 9;. 19.15 1,196,121'Y Larsen Aug; 29, 1916A 1,455,940 Stems s May 22, 192.3 1,479,307 McAneny Jani 1,. 1924 

